Stirrup and hammock spring.



PATENTED JUNE 5 S. P. FOSTER. I STIRRUP AND HAMMOCK SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1905.

aw/memes SAMUEL P. FOSTER, OF DALTON, GEORGIA.

STIRRUP AND HAMMOCK SPRING-l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed December 7, 1905. Serial No. 290,843.

To all whom, it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, SAMUEL P. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dalton, in the county of Whitfield and State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stirrup and HammockSprings and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such'as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved spring for use for hanging stirrups andhammocks to enable the same to yield and spring; and it consists in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of astirrup and hammock spring embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the same in use in connection with a stirrup.

My improved spring appliance for use in connection with a stirrup or ahammock comprises a pair of links 1 2 and a spring 3. The link 1 isprovided with a pair of downwardlyeXtending guide-arms 4, properlyspaced apart and provided at their lower ends with outwardly-extendingshoulders 5. The upper bar of the link 2 passes between the saidguide-arms and is provided near its center with collars 6, which bearagainst said guidearms and serve to direct the movement of the link 2with'relation to the link 1. The lower bar of the link 2 is providedwith an upstanding headed stud 8 for engagement by a loop 9 when thedevice is in use in connection with a stirrup, as shown in Fig. 2. Thespring, which is a coiled extensile spring, is placed on the guide-armswith its lower end bearing on the outstanding shoulders at the lowerends of said guide-arms and its upper end bearing under the upper bar ofthe lower link 2. The upper link serves for the attachment of thestirrup-strap of a saddle, and it will be under stood that the springeffects a yielding connection between the links 1 2, so as to adapt thestirrup to yield somewhat when pressed upon by the rider. A saddleprovided with my improved spring devices adds materially to the comfortboth of the rider and his mount. Moreover, owing to the fact that thelower link 2 is arranged at right angles to the upper link 1, myimproved spring connection serves to maintain the stirrup in therequired position at right angles to the stirrup-strap. It will befurther understood that the upper bar of the lower link and thedepending guidearms of the upper link effect a pivotal slidableconnection between the upper and lower links, thus allowing freemovement to the stirrup. My spring connection is also useful incushioning stress applied to the stirrupstrap by the weight of the rider in mounting and dismounting and in preventing the stirrup-strap frombreaking.

My improved spring connection when used in hanging a hammock causes thehammock to yield easily to the motion of the occupant and prevents thestress of the weight of the body of the occupant from being appliedinstantly to the rope or chain from which the hammock is hung, and henceprevents the same from breaking.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pat ent, is-

1. The combination of the upper link having the depending guide-arms,the lower link having the upper bar between and slidably and pivotallyrelated to the guide-arms, and the spring forming a yielding connectionbetween said links.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair oflinks disposed at right angles to each other, and slidably and pivotallyconnected to each other, and a yielding spring connection between thesaid links, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL P. FOSTER. Witnesses:

WM. CARROLL, CHAS. KREISCHER.

